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Heightened security fears on Chernobyl disaster anniversary |


The Chernobyl nuclear plant no longer exists and the city of Slavutich – whose inhabitants maintain the site, which needs constant monitoring to ensure that radioactive material does not leak out – has been occupied by the Russian military. for more than a month.

Bogdan Serdyuk, president of the union representing factory workers, recalls the battle near the site, which marked the beginning of the Russian invasion, on 24 February.

“The station staff heard the roar of military equipment, and soon the area was surrounded by Russian tanks. The rails throw out contaminated dust, which increases the background radiation immediately.

“The station has security units, specialized in fighting terrorism, but they are not suitable for Russian forces and in any case, there are regulations that prohibit combat operations on the territory of a power plant. Nuclear.”


Reactor 3 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in Ukraine.

© Unsplash / Mick de Paola

Reactor 3 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, in Ukraine.

According to the employees, the main problem was that as a result of the shelling, power lines were damaged, and both Slavutych and the plant itself lost power.

Mr. Serdyuk explained: “The plant has four units, including the one that was destroyed in the 1986 accident. All the nuclear fuel of the three units that remained operational after the explosion has been removed and put into nuclear waste storage”.

“The fuel rods are stored in recirculated water to keep them cool. At the time of the power outage, everyone was worried whether the water would start to heat up or not. Experts say that, if it doesn’t circulate, the water can boil, and the spent fuel will start to melt, with unpredictable consequences.”

Another cause for concern is the safety of the protective coffin containing the fourth power unit’s destroyed reactor, and the remains of nuclear waste. Damage to the coffin can lead to radioactive fallout.


A sign warning of the risk of radiation in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

© Unsplash / Michał Lis

A sign warning of the risk of radiation in Chernobyl, Ukraine.

Concern of the whole world

The work at Chernobyl is carried out by about 2,700 people. Most live in Slavutych, a satellite city built shortly after the 1986 crash, about 50 kilometers from the epicenter of the disaster.

The workers of the nuclear power plant, along with their families, as well as the residents of the city of Pripyat were evacuated and the entire 30 km long area around the plant was affected by radioactive contamination. relocated there.

In peacetime, factory workers in Slavutych commute by train, which takes about 45 minutes. However, when the railways blew up, travel from Slavutych took eight hours and employees are now rotated, working full weeks at the factory, which was not designed for people living on site.

Mr. Slavutych warned: “Nuclear plants are designed to withstand an impact equivalent to that of an aircraft. But this is not the same as the shelling that took place at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant.” , Mr. Slavutych warned. plant.

“The seizure of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and the shelling of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant raises questions about nuclear safety not only for Ukraine. Nuclear power plants should not be the target of the military, as even partial destruction can lead to catastrophic consequences for the entire world.”


A recent photo of the city of Slavutich, Ukraine.

Courtesy of Vladimir Udovichenko

A recent photo of the city of Slavutich, Ukraine.

‘We cannot allow such a tragedy to happen again’

“We have a tradition in Slavutych. Every year, from April 25 to 26, at the exact moment when the Chernobyl accident happened, we gather close to the Chernobyl victims,” ​​said Vladimir Udovichenko, mayor of the town said.

“We pay tribute to those who have protected Ukraine and the whole world from the even more terrible consequences of the accident. And today we will not break this tradition. We cannot allow such a tragedy to happen again.

“What happened in Chernobyl [following the Russian invasion] and continue now in Enerhodar [the town where the Zaporizhzhya plant is located] is unacceptable. This needs to be stopped and now we need to think about what can be done to enhance the safety of nuclear power plants. We look forward to IAEA professionals to work with us”.


The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi (centre) speaks to journalists on Tuesday after visiting the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

IAEA

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi (centre) speaks to journalists on Tuesday after visiting the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine.

IAEA team to Ukraine

A team of IAEA staff, led by Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, is visiting Chernobyl, to deliver equipment and conduct radiological and other assessments at the facility. Personal protective equipment will also be delivered.

In addition, IAEA experts will repair remote data control systems installed at the facility that the occupation forces have disabled, resulting in IAEA staff at the Agency’s headquarters in Vienna. could not receive data online from Chernobyl.

Since the beginning of the war, the IAEA has expressed serious concern about the safety and security of Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. According to Grossi, it is necessary to ensure the physical integrity of nuclear power plants, the ability of employees to work without undue stress and access to external power sources.

These rules have been severely violated over the past two months. In March, contact with the Chernobyl nuclear power plant was lost. The station was left without external power and for several days had to use emergency diesel generators.

“The presence of the IAEA at Chernobyl will be of primary importance to our support activities for Ukraine, as it seeks to restore regulatory control over the power plant,” said Mr. Grossi. kernel and ensure its safe and secure operation. Additional IAEA missions here, and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine”.



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